1. What are the advantages of registering?

    When a death occurs, your next of kin or the personal representative named in your will is legally responsible for making decisions about your remains. Having your written consent on file can provide important guidance and reassurance to your family during a potentially difficult time. As a donor to the program, we sincerely hope you have discussed your wishes with your loved ones and have their full support.

  1. Can I change my mind regarding body donation?

    Yes, you may change your mind at any time regarding your donation. Please let your loved ones know of your final decision, and ask that they honour your wishes. As well, please contact the Body Donation Program to inform them of the changes.

  1. After registering in the program, is my acceptance guaranteed?

    We are deeply grateful to those who consider donating their remains to the Cumming School of Medicine in support of education and research. Please be aware that, in some cases, we may not be able to accept a donation, and final decisions can only be made at the time of death. To help minimize stress for your loved ones, we encourage you to discuss your wishes with them and make alternative arrangements as part of your planning. Follow this link to see our exclusion criteria:

    Exclusion Criteria

  1. I have an underlying medical condition, would this not be of research interest?

    The primary focus of our body donation program is the teaching of normal human anatomy, rather than the study of donor-specific disease or pathology. Contrary to common perceptions about medical research, researchers typically do not have legal access to donors’ confidential medical histories, nor do most research projects require diseased tissue. If your interest lies in supporting research involving pathology, an alternative option is to consent to an autopsy and permit the use of tissue obtained during the procedure for educational and/or research purposes. This option is organized by your primary care physician. 

  1. I have a rare disease. If my body is donated, will my family get a report?

    As our program is primarily focused on teaching normal human anatomy, we are not able to provide diagnostic or investigative services. Families who wish to learn more about a loved one’s illness or medical condition may consider requesting an autopsy. This can be arranged through their family physician in coordination with the Department of Pathology at Foothills Hospital, which specializes in this area.

  1. When will we find out if an individual has been accepted?

    The decision to accept the donation will be made after discussing the case with the physician, next of kin or executor at the time of death. This typically happens within the hour we are notified of the death. If the donation must be declined, the next step is to contact a funeral provider for final disposition. 

  1. How can we get more info on Organ and Tissue Donation?

    For further information, please contact the nursing coordinator with the Southern Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Program at 1-403-944-8700, or you may also wish to visit their website at Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation | Alberta Health Services for further information. 

    Organ and Tissue Donation

  1. How do I Register?

    To register in our program, please fill and return the registration form that can be found at the following link: CSM BDP Registration Form 

    In return, you will receive a formal letter confirming your registration with the program. This letter will come with two cards that will have an individual registration number as well as our 24/7 notification of death phone line. 

    Registration

  1. I would like to donate my organs, can I participate in Body Donation too?

    Our program strongly supports individuals who choose to donate their organs, and we encourage those interested to consider registering for both organ donation and whole-body donation programs. At the time of death, each program will assess eligibility independently based on its specific criteria. Please note that the removal of internal organs and tissues—except for the cornea and sclera of the eyes—prior to embalming renders the body unsuitable for our educational purposes.

  1. How is my privacy protected?

    The privacy of donors is protected, and all staff members and students are committed to treating all donated bodies with the utmost dignity. Students and researchers are only given the age, gender and cause of death of a body if it's deemed necessary for their studies. 

  1. I meet one or more of the exclusion criteria, what are my options?

    If you or your loved one meet one of the above exclusion criteria it is advised that you make alternative arrangements with a funeral home of your choosing. You may also wish to inquire with other programs such as the University of Calgary Hotchkiss Institute Brain Bank - further information can be found on their website at Hotchkiss Brain Institute | University of Calgary. 

    University of Calgary Brain Bank

  1. I'm moving outside of your service area, but would like to donate.

    Unfortunately due to program logistics we often cannot arrange for the movement of potential donors over areas far extending our designated service area. However medical schools across Western Canada do have similar programs:

    University of Alberta Anatomical Gifts - (780) 492-2203

    University of British Columbia - 604-822-2578 / body.program@ubc.ca

    University of Saskatchewan - 306-966-4075

  1. Who do we contact when a potential donor has passed?

    It is imperative that a representative of the Program is contacted as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. We may be reached by calling 403-220-6950 and selecting option #1. A representative is available for notification of passing 24/7/365. If the call is time sensitive our contracted funeral service provider, Prairie Rose Cremation & Funeral Services, can be reached directly at 403-216-5111.

  1. What does the hospital/care centre do when death of a potential donor occurs?

    If the body has been accepted, the body should be prepared in the same fashion as would be done for a funeral home including documentation. The university will also make the necessary arrangements for transportation of the body to the university. 

  1. Are there any costs associated with Body Donation?

    For accepted donations, all costs will be covered by the University of Calgary Body Donation Program. These include the transportation of the body, cremation and interment of the cremated remains in the university plot at Queen's Park Cemetery. Should the family wish to have the remains returned to them, the cost of a private internment or burial would be borne by the family. 

  1. What if death occurs outside of Calgary?

    The boundaries of the University of Calgary's service area for accepting donations are: North to Red Deer, South to U.S.A. border, East to Saskatchewan border and West to B.C. border. If a death occurs outside our service area please be aware that we will not be able to accept the donation. We reserve the right to amend our service area under certain circumstances on a case by case basis. 

  1. If I donate my body, what happens after studies are completed?

    Depending on how the body is to be utilized, it can be in our care anywhere from several months up to six years or more. Afterwards, the remains are cremated and returned to the university in preparation for final disposition as previously arranged with the personal representative named in the will of the decedent and/or next-of-kin.

  1. How long can one expect to be in the Program?

    The average length of stay in our Program is six years, but varies greatly. We advise donors and families to be comfortable with the six year time period. 

  1. Will my remains be returned to my loved ones?

    Yes, if that is the family's wish and is consistent with the wishes of the personal representative you named in your will. Changes, however, can be made at anytime prior to final disposition.

  1. How does the University prepare the bodies for cremation and burial?

    The bodies are cremated separately by our contracted provider Prairie Rose Cremation & Funeral Services. The cremated remains are respectfully placed into individual temporary urns for either burial in the university plot or returned to the family for private disposition.

  1. When and where are Memorial Services?

    Memorial Services take place every two years after the Labour Day long weekend in September. The University of Calgary has a designated plot at the Queen's Park Cemetery in Northwest Calgary. The location is just off of the north entrance on 40th Avenue N.W. More information can be found at the following: 

    Memorial Services

  1. How does the University contact family for the Service or Urn pickup?

    Contact with family members or executors are made with phone calls and/or registered letters based on the information gathered at the time of the arrangements. It is the responsibility of the executor or next-of-kin to inform us of any changes to their contact information.

  2. Where can we meet for pick-up?

    If you have received a letter of study completion from the University of Calgary Body Donation Program, you may wish to pick up your loved ones urn directly from the University of Calgary Foothills Campus. To do so, please schedule an appointment by contacting us through email or phone. When an appointment has been made, please meet us at the Health Sciences Centre Information Desk, not at our primary office as we don't have sufficient office space. The lot most conveniently located for parking is Lot #6.  

  1. What happens to the remains if the family cannot be contacted?

    In cases where families have not maintained updated contact information we will hold the cremated remains for a period of one year after cremation and will inter the cremated remains in the university plot at the next available memorial service.

  1. Is there a commemorative marker with the names of those buried? Can we do so?

    There is a single granite marker for the University of Calgary section in the cemetery but there are no individual names inscribed. Unfortunately in these plots, it is not possible to have individual markers installed. You may wish to contact the cemetery office and make inquiries into other possible forms of memorialization (i.e. tree planting or park benches etc.).

  1. Can multiple family members be interred together?

    Unfortunately, due to our policy of not accepting donors until time of death, as well as the logistics of long term storage of urns, we do not allow requests for donors to be interred together.